If you've ever had the pleasure of popping a Jelly Belly jellybean into your mouth, chances are it was grown at the Herman Goelitz candy factory in Fairfield, California. Yes, I meant to say, "grows." Jelly Bellies, as we were fascinated to learn on our guided tour, achieve their adult size through a process called "engrossing." It takes a week to plump one up to the proper dimensions, and some flavors take even longer. The first step in jellybean manufacture happens at the "mogul station" where the centers of the beans are molded from a recipe that includes cornstarch, corn syrup, fruit purees, and other flavorings. The centers are allowed to dry, and after they receive a "sugar shower," the engrossing process begins.

Dozens of engrossing machines, which look like small cement mixers, stand in rows. The beans are tumbled in stainless steel barrels as confectioners add syrup and sugar in a two-hour process. After drying, they get "engrossed" again, and the process is repeated six times. The last engrossing coats each bean with a shiny glaze. Two or three days later, the beans receive their official Jelly Belly tattoo, which is applied by a machine that does the job at a rate of 20,700 beans a minute. (And in case you were wondering, the factory turns out 40,000 pounds of Jelly Bellies in over fifty different flavors per eight-hour shift.)

The Herman Goelitz factory tour is well worth the journey to Fairfield, and if you visit, you'll be sure to leave with new respect for what it takes to make the delectable little treats.